Pig saved by a St Gregs boy! - Dec 12, 2015
Dear Gardening Friends,
Another hot day in Macarthur had us all wilting. It’s so important that you water all your pot plants daily during this hot weather because once the potting mix runs out of water your plants can quickly die.
I spoke to you last week about some solutions. If you are planting trees and shrubs in your gardens during this weather make sure you dunk your pots in a bucket of water prior to planting.
Modern potting mixes are made from recycled pinebark and once this becomes dry it is almost impossible to get it wet again.
Hold the pot under the water until all the bubbles stop. Plant your shrub in Planting compost improved soil then water daily for at least 3 weeks.
People seem to think that native plants don’t need to be watered. Once they are established, they are incredibly hardy but in the first month or so they are totally dependent on you.
Forget to water them for a few days and the leaves will turn yellow and then brown before dropping off! Sometimes they can be brought back to life by dunking them in a bucket of water but not always.
Never fertilise a sick plant. This will only make it sicker! Water with Seasol. This seaweed tonic encourages sick plants to grow new roots.
Mulch also stops up to 80% of the ground water from evaporating so make sure all your gardens are mulched during this heat wave.
We have had a lot of interest in the W.A Flowering Gums that I showed you last week.
These spectacular flowering small trees have these bright coloured flowers that just look like Christmas bells. They also get covered in these beautiful woody nuts at Christmas time.
If you want your garden to become famous in your suburb plant one of these on the nature strip or in the middle of your lawn. Every Christmas it will get covered in these spectacular flowers. We have orange, red and pink flowering varieties right now.
Buy yourself a Christmas present. Remember to dunk before you plant and water daily for at least a month.
It’s that time of year when you will be calling in on friends to wish them all the best for Christmas.
It’s nice to take fresh flowers but these will only last for a week at best during this hot weather. We have beautiful potted plants that will still be in flower next year!
One of my favourite plants at this time of year are the New Guinea Impatiens, They have large glossy green leaves and bright coloured flowers that really catch your attention.
They make great table decorations or you can tart up your pots and shady gardens in time for Christmas.
They make great gifts and they are so cheap at just $15.99.
Karyn has planted a new sun loving variety in our carpark gardens. They are called “Sun Patiens”.
Our car park gardens get sun for most of the day so it will be a good test. Check them out when you come for a visit. They certainly have the wow factor.
Camden Council has used New Guinea Impatiens successfully under an Oak tree just as you enter Argyle Street over the bridge. The bright coloured flowers look fantastic.
These Impatiens do need lots of water for best results.
We had our staff Christmas party last night at The Italian Food Project in Camden.
We had a great time sitting outside. Such a beautiful night after such a hot day.
We seem to end up telling stories all night and Nathan was telling us how one of the kids in the soccer team he coaches turned up on game day wearing a gum boot on one foot and a soccer boot on the other. His mother didn’t think it would create a problem because the gum boot wasn’t on his kicking side!
Simon was also in a story telling mood. About every 6 months he decides to loose weight for a day. He walked to work in the morning but on the way home he was feeling so fit he decided to jog!
His record is about 50 metres but he was still jogging after 500 metres when suddenly he slipped on the bush track and fell head over heals.
He lay on the ground for several minutes to make sure he hadn’t broken anything. He was in Smiths Creek so nobody would have found him for a few days.
Simon thinks Smiths Creek is Aboriginal for dangerous place! Eventually he sat up on a log and decided to do a Facebook post about his accident! Who does that?
We lost interest in his story when we realised he can’t have been that badly hurt.
If you are looking for fast Christmas presents come and see us at the nursery.
Simon has found some amazing ceramic pots that start at just $3.99.
These would normally sell for around $15 to $20. If you buy and indoor plant and one of these pots we will happily repot it for you using Tim’s Best potting mix for free.
Its just one of those time saving services we offer.
Pig had a near life and death experience here this week when a Christmas tree fell on top of him.
“Killed by a Christmas tree”, now that would have made the news.
We were all to deaf to hear poor pigs squeals for help but luckily Jake Gilbert from St Gregory’s High was here doing work experience and he lept into action.
Pig was shaken but not stirred. Jake may get a bravery medal.
Never turn your back on a Christmas tree!
We still have plenty of Fresh Cut Christmas trees. We have more coming tomorrow.
Happy Gardening
Tim